. . .because Morris, Minnesota, is a pleasant, quiet, safe yet intellectually stimulating place on the west central Minnesota prairie, home of the U of M-Morris and a whole lot of interesting people. - morris mn

"You'll never get ahead if you don't take care of what you have." - Doris Waddell, RIP

A historic building on our U of M-Morris campus - morris mn

The multi-ethnic building was the original home of the music department at UMM. (B.W. photo)

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Sauk Centre girls end up No. 2 in state hoops

Streeters 67, N-YA 45

Sauk Centre made Section 6AA proud in the post-season. The Streeter
girls climbed through the various state levels. They ended up just shy
of the state title. They carried the 6AA banner into state where first
they played Norwood-Young America. This quarter-final game was close in the first half, not so close in the second.
I use the name "Streeters" but the formal name is "Mainstreeters." Let's all remember Sinclair Lewis.
The Sauk Centre girls shot 34 percent in the first half versus N-YA, then got hot in the second to the tune of 65 percent. The
67-45 win was the 30th of the season for this high-flying unit.
It was also win No. 28 in a row. Wow! Along the way they beat the
dynastic New London-Spicer Wildcats for the Section 6AA title. Sauk was top-seeded for state.
The
Streeters made six of eight 3-point shot tries over the last 18 minutes
in the state quarter-final game. The second half was really key,
especially a seven-minute span. When that span was done, the Streeters had a commanding 22-point lead.
Kelsey Peschel, just a freshman, topped Sauk's scoring on the night with 17 points, eleven of which came in the second half. Madison Moritz was a monster rebounder, snaring 16. She led her team to a 40-25 advantage in rebounds.
The Raiders of Norwood-Young America were led by Kali Grimm, a freshman, who put in 12 points.

Streeters 54, Minnehaha 49
Sauk Centre's next mission was to play Minnehaha Academy. Now we're in the state semis. Minnehaha had size as an attribute. They're known for having physical guards. They used that attribute to cause Sauk Centre problems in the first half. Sauk's shooting was off in the first half. However, Sauk Centre picked up freethrow attempts as a result of Minnehaha's physical nature. Sauk made ten of 12 freethrow tries in the first half, and they were in quite decent shape at halftime. The score was 31-29 with Sauk in the lead.
The game stayed close in the second half. Minnehaha guards Sarah Kaminski and Gracia Gilreath
were a force to be reckoned with. They dealt a physical brand of play
which, like in the first half, can result in the opponent getting freethrows. This happened in the second half. Sauk Centre was able to gain the edge it needed via this.
Madison Moritz shot freethrows in the clutch late. For the whole game, Madison was eight of eight in freethrows.
She wasn't as sharp shooting field goals. She cited the physical nature
of the game as a limiting factor. "Luckily we made our freethrows," she was quoted saying.
Sisters Mauren and Maesyn Thiesen were standouts in Sauk's 54-49 win. The Thiesen family moved from Becker to Sauk Centre over the summer. Mauren Thiesen scored 14 points vs. Minnehaha. Maesyn Thiesen put in 12. "I'm glad they're here now and I'm glad they're on our team," Moritz said.

Dover-Eyota 71, Streeters 58
The state finals matched those Mainstreeters against Dover-Eyota. Dover-Eyota was the No. 2 state seed. That storied arena on the U of M campus - Williams Arena - was the venue.
Could Sauk Centre make it 30 wins in a row? It wasn't to be. Dover-Eyota was the 71-58 winner. Those Eagles showed poise, never seeming overwhelmed by the elite situation. Their junior center Megan Hintz overcame foul worries and ended up with 24 points scored. Plus she collected 17 rebounds. She carried four fouls.
But it was Eagle Brandi Blattner
who led all scorers with 25 points. Brandi is a senior guard. She also
contributed 14 rebounds. Madison Nelson, junior guard, had 15 points and
15 rebounds. Sauk Centre was in fact flirting with victory, owning a 55-51 lead with just under six minutes left. The Eagles went on a 13-0 run.
The Streeters were uncharacteristically erratic in shooting. The Thiesen sisters held then own, as Maesyn scored 23 points and Mauren 14. Together they made five of the team's seven 3-pointers. But Sauk's team numbers in 3's were quite off. Dover-Eyota did well collecting rebounds off those missed shots. My, they out-rebounded the Streeters 71-32! That's astounding. And yet Sauk had that late lead. Hintz
was quoted saying this game was the type in which her team feels
comfortable. "We usually put up quite a few points and rebounds," she
said.
The books are closed on Sauk Centre's season with an abundance of special memories having been made. Just imagine Sinclair Lewis writing about it!

Summer scenes around Morris, 2012

Click on the image to view a Flickr album of photos taken around the Morris area in the warm weather months of 2012. This group includes photos taken at the 2012 UMM graduation. The image above taken near Perkins Lake was chosen for display in the "Minnesota Explorers" Flickr gallery which is linked to Rick Kupchella's "Bring Me the News" MN website. Also chosen was a field of sunflowers photo I took. I'm delighted to have such platforms available. - B.W.

Past MACA Tiger football photos:

City of Morris perspective:

Pin it on your chest!

Click on the above image to access our "City Data" page.

Morris Theater - morris mn

Click on this image to read thoughts/reflections on our Morris Theater, which is hanging on through changing times (as a co-op). There is a link at the bottom of this post to read part 2 as well. These posts were written in spring of 2010 so there are some dated references. Any Morris native can spin some fond recollections of enjoying cinema fare there with friends.

Enjoy some fall scenery around Morris:

Enjoy some winter scenes around Morris:

Sam Smith statue - morris mn

Click on the image to read about the Sam Smith "running rifleman" statue at Summit Cemetery. This post explores the life of Samuel Smith, early Morris resident. He fought for the Union cause in several major engagements in the Civil War. The statue is patterned after the statue for the First Minnesota Regiment at Gettysburg National Park. This post is the newest of three that I have written about Sam Smith. I consider it the most comprehensive about the man. The statue can be an overlooked landmark of Morris MN. Everyone here ought to be familiar with it. Smith raised a large family north of Morris.

The first building here

In 1871 the first building erected within the village of Morris was the headquarters of the chief engineer of the railroad, C.H.F. Morris. With the railroad came the people.

The WCROC overlook

A nice view to the west is afforded from the WCROC overlook. It's a relatively new feature of the WCROC grounds. Specifically it's part of the WCROC Horticulture Garden. Click on the image to reach the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) website. Les Lindor was instrumental in making the overlook a reality. He served the West Central Experiment Station (the entity predating the WCROC) as ag engineer.

Stay informed about Stevens County MN:

Morris' music mecca:

Words to live by

This original and popular sign can be seen from the highway between Morris and Cyrus. It's associated with the late Dan Helberg. There used to be a sculpture next to it but perhaps it was removed due to legal restrictions (i.e. as a distraction). The sign has the thumbs-up for which we are grateful. Let's always heed these words.

Some spring/summer photo scenes:

The bike trail system

Call it both a walking and bicycling trail. It snakes along both the east and west sides of our Pomme de Terre River. You can do a complete lap which reportedly measures 4 1/2 miles. It's a fitness challenge for those willing to push their bodies a little! This photo was taken on the east side of the river, heading toward Lake Crissey (a wide spot on the river). Spring is a great time to get out there.

Our area's history:

Remembering "ag school"

From the time it accepted its first class in 1910, until it graduated its final class of seniors in 1963, over 7,000 students attended the West Central School of Agriculture. The precursor of the U of M-Morris, it opened its doors to its first class of 103 students in October of 1910.

Wildflowers out by the river

Click on this image to reach the "Minnesota wildflowers" website. This photo was taken on the west side of our Pomme de Terre River.

Before the current library

In 1921 the Stevens County Memorial Armory was built on the 100 block of East 6th Street, the site which is now occupied by the Morris Public Library.1969 saw the opening of the new Morris Public Library on the site of the old armory, leaving vacant the Carnegie building. The Historical Society found a new home in the Carnegie building in 1970.

A suggested restaurant

About Me

Brian Williams is a former writer in the Morris "dead tree" media who plies his pastime in the wonderful, liberating new media today. He refuses to consider himself an alternative journalist because the web is now the mainstream. Newspapers are in rapid retreat and it won't be long before they will exist in vestigial form only. Print media will not die because as a media observer put it: "We will always have print media for as long as there's a 'print' button on your computer." A once weekly newspaper (like in Morris) won't cut it. It's not consistent with our instant gratification culture. But the media are blossoming more than ever thanks to all the new tools. It's an uplifting, "green" new universe. Key word suggestions: morris mn - hancock mn - donnelly mn - cyrus mn - chokio mn - alberta mn - 56267 - stevens county - morris theater mn - morris area tigers - hancock owls.

Buy a car:

Pomme de Terre or Perkins?

Most maps identify it as "Perkins Lake" but it's known as Pomme de Terre to many local residents. The sign at the entry to the lake access uses the Pomme de Terre term, so that seems legitimate. This lake is part of a chain that represent wide spots on the Pomme de Terre River. Pomme de Terre Lake is useful for recreation and fishing, plus there are many fine residences along the shoreline. The chain is located several miles north of Morris.

A Destiny Driver. . .

"I Love Morris" is consistent with one of the "destiny drivers" as articulated by Stevens Forward! (named for Stevens County): "By 2010 we will enhance our interconnectedness by better utilizing the technology infrastructure to create a virtual community." (2010 is already here but this is always a "work in progress!")

We're the "Storm" in hockey

Click on this image to reach the official website of the Morris Benson Area "Storm" hockey program. Of course it's "MBA" for short. In Morris these teams play at the Lee Community Center, next to the fairgrounds.

B.W.'s country music memories, 1996-97:

Your Congressman:

Maintain perspective:

Main street of Morris mn

Atlantic Avenue is the main street of Morris and it's typically abuzz. Click on the above image to reach the Stevens County Economic Improvement Commission website.

Gager's Station

The first stopping place in Stevens County was Gager's Station, considered by some historians to be one of the more important stopping plces on the Wadsworth Trail. The station was nestled among the trees near Wintermute Lake.

VIDEO CLIPS

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The Eagles huddle

Blue is the color of the Morris amateur baseball team which goes by the nickname "Eagles." They're pictured about to break a pre-game huddle at their home: Chizek Field, named for the late Don Chizek who coached the Morris High Tigers for many years. The Tigers now have their own veteran coach in Lyle Rambow. Lyle had a successful playing career with the Eagles.

RIP jazz band leaders:

Best dog you could own:

"Dog is my co-pilot":

Superb early-morning TV:

Wind turbines - morris mn

There are two grand wind turbines such as this one on the eastern edge of Morris. It appears glistening white in this photo but they often are dark, silhouetted against the bright sky. A photographer never tires of them. They have become sustainable symbols of the community.

A trail of long ago here

The Wadsworth Trail was established by the U.S. Government in 1864 to transport supplies from St. Cloud to Fort Wadsworth, west of present day Sisseton, South Dakota.

No longer just a comedian:

She's upstaging Jim Klobuchar now:

Visit our McDonald's

It's a hotspot for dependable fast food and, just as important, socializing: our McDonald's Restaurant on the north end of Atlantic Avenue.

Our park in west Morris

Wells Park, located near Pacific Avenue and West 11th Street, was established in 1916 on land donated to the city by Henry Wells (a successful businessman and land investor) and Margaret Hulburd. Additional land was donated in 1935 by the Wells Investment Company, and in 1980 by Grace Zamerow.